Enhancing flexibility and system performance in 6G and beyond: A user-based numerology and waveform approach

A Mixed Numerology OFDM (MN-OFDM) system is essential in 6G and beyond. However, it encounters challenges due to Inter-Numerology Interference (INI). The upcoming 6G technology aims to support innovative applications with high data rates, low latency, and reliability. Therefore, effective handling of INI is crucial to meet the diverse requirements of these applications. To address INI in MN-OFDM systems, this paper proposes a User-Based Numerology and Waveform (UBNW) approach that uses various OFDM-based waveforms and their parameters to mitigate INI. By assigning a specific waveform and numerology to each user, UBNW mitigates INI, optimizes service characteristics, and addresses user demands efficiently. Guard Band (GB) requirements, expressed as a ratio of user bandwidth, vary significantly across different waveforms at an SIR of 25 dB. For instance, OFDM-FOFDM needs only 2.5%, while OFDM-UFMC, OFDM-WOLA, and conventional OFDM require 7.5%, 24%, and 40%, respectively. The time-frequency efficiency also varies between the waveforms. FOFDM achieves 85.6%, UFMC achieves 81.6%, WOLA achieves 70.7%, and conventional OFDM achieves 66.8%. The simulation results demonstrate that the UBNW approach not only effectively mitigates INI but also enhances system flexibility and time-frequency efficiency, while simultaneously reducing the required GB.